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Therapeutics - Psoriasis
Types, Treatments
37
Pharmacology
Undergraduate 4
10/21/2010

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Cards

Term
What is the Koebner phenomenon?
Definition
Injury to skin such as cut or burn causes psoriasis to develop.
Term
What drugs may cause psoriasis?
Definition
Li, chloroquinine, B-blockers used in bipolar disorder
Term
What are the various causes of psoriasis?
Definition
drugs, genetics, infection, stress, alcohol, smoking
Term
What is acanthosis?
Definition
thickening of epidermis
Term
What 4 points of the pathophysiology of psoriasis?
Definition

Increased epidermal cell turnover rate

Epidermis thickens, granular layer abscent

Dermal capilliaries dilated, tortuous and closer to skin surface

Lymphocytes and langerhans cells release cytokines, causing release of more inflammatory cells, causing increased turnover in epidermal cells

Term
What are the types of psoriasis? (9)
Definition
Guttate, chronic plaque, of scalp, of nails, of palms and soles, flexural/inverse, Erythrodermic/generalised pustular, psoriatic arthropathy
Term
What are the symptoms of psoriasis?
Definition

Red scaly sharply demarcated plaque of any size and shape affecting any part of body (face is spared)

Scale is silvery, flakes off to show tiny bleed spots

Not itchy when inflammed

Term
When is Guttate psoriasis often observed?
Definition
in children after a streptococcal sore throat, self limiting after a few weeks
Term
How does Guttate psoriasis manifest?
Definition
multiple small drop-like plaques all over the body
Term
What is the most common type of psoriasis?
Definition
Chronic plaque psoriasis
Term
How does chonic plaque psoriasis manifest?
Definition
persistent medium/large plaques on trunk and limbs
Term
How does psoriasis of the nails manifest?  (3)
Definition
pitting, oncholysis(separation of nail from bed), hyperkeratosis under the nail
Term
How does psoriasis of palms and sole manifest?
Definition

Inflammed, scaly, sharply, demarcated with sterile, pin-head sized pustules

Pustules dry up to form brown spots with thick fissured skin-> infection

Term
What areas does flexural/inverse psoriasis affect?
Definition
axillar, genitalia, groin, submammory area
Term
What psoriasis is life-threatening?
Definition
erythrodermic & generalised pustular psoriasis
Term
How does erythrodermic & generalised pustular psoriasis manifest?
Definition
whole skin involved; pustules coalesce to form sheet of puss
Term
What may mild to moderate plaque psoriasis be treated with?
Definition
dithranol, tars, topical steroids, calcipotriol
Term
What treatment may widespread plaque psoriasis require?
Definition

dithranol, tars, topical steroids

UVB, PUVA

methotrexate, cyclosporin, acitretin, hydroxyurea

RePUVA (acitretin, methoxysalen, UVA)

Term
What treatments are used in Guttate psoriasis?
Definition
Penicillin, tars, topical steroids, UVB, PUVA, calcipotriol
Term
What treatment may be requied in erythrodermic psoriasis
Definition

Hospitalisation

Baths, emollients, MTX, acitretin, cyclosporin

Term
What type of psoriasis may indicate tetracycline?
Definition
Palmoplantular pustular
Term
What type of psoriasis may indicate topical keratolytics?
Definition
palmoplantar hyperkeratotic psoriasis
Term
What does scalp psoriasis treatment consist of?
Definition
topical steroids, tar shampoo, dithranol pomades, systemic therapy
Term
What do emollients acheive when treating psoriasis?
Definition
prevent drying and formation of fissures
Term
What may be given with emollients to improve penetration?
Definition
keratolytic
Term
Why are creams and oinments preferred of aqueous and alcoholic solutions?
Definition
may cause stinging on inflamed skin
Term
When is dithranol unsuitable?
Definition

highly inflamed areas

face flexures

Term
How is tar used in conjunction with UVB therapy?
Definition
tar bath followed by UVB irradiation
Term
Which psoriasis therapy may cause hypercalcaemia with excess use?
Definition
calcipotriol
Term
What is Systemic therapy?
Definition

Psoralen + UVA

Psoralen interferes with DNA synthesis (reduce cell turnover rate) when activated by long wave UV

Psoralen taken PO 2hrs prior UVA

Term
What are the side effects of systemic therapy (PUVA)
Definition

nausea, pruritis, drying of skin

melanoma/non-melanoma cancer (long term)

Eyes must be protected during UVA to prevent cataracts

Term
What is most effective in treating psoriatic arthritis?
Definition

MTX; requires supplementation of Folic acid 5mg every other day.

Metoclopramide for nausea

Term
How is MTX induced Acute marrow suppression or GI bleeding reversed?
Definition

folonic acid rescue;

(IV or IM folonic acid over 12-24hrs)

Term
What should be monitored during cyclosporine treatment
Definition
renal function
Term
What psoriasis treatment contraindicates phototherapy?
Definition
cyclosporine
Term
What are the adverse effects of acitretin?
Definition

liver abnormalities

decreased bone maturation in children

dry skin: lips and mucous membranes

Term
What is PUVA?
Definition

Psoralen PO, then long wave UV phototherapy.

Psoralen is activated by UVA to interfere with DNA synthesis, decreasing epidermal cell turnover.

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